Type-writing machine.



J. C. DOANE.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.23.19H.

l 9 TL fi fi m Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

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JOHN C. DOANE, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOODTYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Application filed March 2-3, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, JOHN C. DOANE, a citizen of the United States,residing in Hartford; in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTypelVriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to mechanism for clutching the platen of atypewriting machine to the line spacing device to provide for the usualuniform line-spacing of the platen; and for releasing the platen fromthe line-spacing device to permit of independent movement of the two, sothat fractional or irregular adjustment of the platen may be effectedwhen desired.

The object of the invention is to provide, for the purpose stated, aclutch which will grip the platen to the line-spacing device insubstantially every position to which the platen may be turned; andwhich, in so gripping the platen, will not disturb the adjustmentthereof, but on the contrary, will iold the platen positively in suchmanner that no play of the parts or disturbance of the adjustment cantake place until the clutch is again operated to release the platen foranother adjustment.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective, showing aportion of the platen frame and platen, certain parts be ing brokenaway. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section through the platenreleasing device, partly broken away, and showing a portion of theexterior of the mechanism. This view shows the releasing device in itslocking position with the platen secured to rotate with the ratchetwheel. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the releasingdevice in its open or released position. Fig. 4 is a side elevation ofthe ratchet wheel, the inner face thereof indicating the arrangement ofthe perforations which cooperate with the pins to lock the platen to theratchet wheel; a portion of the ratchet being broken away. Fig. 5 is aview in cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 looking in the directionof the arrow, certain parts being omitted. Fig. 6 is a perspectiveshowing the inner end of the sleeve which carries the locking pins, andshowing also a fragment of the ratchet wheel, and of the bushing orsleeve on which the ratchet wheel Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 29, 1916.

SeriaI No. 616,335.

is mounted. Fig. 7 is a perspective of one of the pins for locking theplaten to the ratchet or line-spacing wheel. Fig. 8 is a viewillustrating the relative positions of locking pins and pin holes in oneadjusted position of the platen.

Mounted in the carriage 1 is the platen shaft 8, carrying the platen 8,the hand wheel 13, and the line-spacing wheel 6. The line-spacingmovement of wheel 6 is effected as in the Underwood machine by means ofa pawl 4: carried by a slide 2 which is operated by a line-spacing lever3. A spring 4 returns the slid-e to normal position after eachoperation; and a spring detent 6 holds the line-spacing wheel with theplaten in the positions to which the same are fed.

The hand wheel 13 is made fast to the platen shaft by means of a pin 9which engages the shaft and extends through a hub or sleeve lat integralwith the hand wheel. The line spacing wheel 6 is not mounted directlyupon the shaft 8, but has its bearing upon a sleeve 7 fitted within thesleeve 14. The pin 9 passes through the sleeve 7 as well as the sleeve 1so that the two sleeves are locked together and act as a unit with theplaten and platen shaft in the operation of the device. The sleeve 7projects beyond the end of the sleeve 14 and is provided with a flange 7between which and the end of the sleeve 14, the line-spacing wheel isheld against lateral displacement.

The line-spacing wheel is normally locked to the sleeve 14, andconsequently to the platen, by means of a number of detents in the formof lock pins or dogs 21 carried by the sleeve 14., and normally held bymeans of springs 28 in such position that their ends engage incorresponding pin holes or pockets 11 in the face of the line-spacingwheel. The lock pins or dogs 21 are mounted to have longitudinalmovement in the sockets 16 in the sleeve 14; so that they may be movedto and from the face of the ratchet wheel.

To release the platen and the hand wheel from the ratchet wheel, thelock pins 21 are shifted longitudinally in the recesses or sockets 16,away from the ratchet wheel and against the action of the coil springs28; and, to effect this shifting operation, the following means isprovided: Held in recesses 19 in the sleeve 14:, beyond the inner end ofthe sleeve 7, (see Figs. 2 and 6) are a number of rockers 25, one foreach lock pin. These rockers each comprises a central bearing or ballhaving a teat or arm projecting radially from each side thereof. Theball portion of each rocker is contained within'one of the recesses 19.The outer teat 26 of eachrocker projects through a slot 17 (see Fig. 6)and engages loosely in an eye or recess 24. in the opposing lock pin.The inner teats 27 of the rockers project through slots 19 and convergeinto a central bore or plunger chamber 35. These rockers, in operation,are levers centrally fulcrumed on the end of sleeve 7.

The lock pins are shifted simultaneously in releasing the platen fromthe ratchet wheel; and, to this end, there is provided a plunger 30which is movable longitudinally in the chamber 35 and which is adaptedat its inner end to engage the converging arms 27 of the several rockers25. The outer end .of the plunger 30 protrudes beyond the outer face ofthe hand wheel and carries a push button 31 by means of which the plan--sitating continued hand pressure on the plunger 30, there is provided abayonet joint connection between the sleeve 1 1 and the plunger 30,consisting of a bayonet slot 32 in the side of the plunger stem, and apin 33 carried by the sleeve 14: to engage with this slot. To hold theplaten mechanically in released position to push button 31 after beingpressed inward is given a part turn to cause the pin 33 to enter theoffset portion of the bayonet joint slot.

To lock the platen to the line-spacing wheel after the adjustingoperation, it is only necessary to release the pressure upon thei-push'button; or, in event the bayonet joint is holding the push button, togive the latter a part turn to released position. When the pressure onthe plunger is thus relieved,'f.the springs 28 throw the loclr pins 3into the opposing pin holes 11 in the ratchet wheel; and the lock pinsin making this movement swing the rockers in such manner v as to causethe arms 27 thereof to force the plunger outward to normal position.Theend walls of the slot 32 by engagement with the pin '33aet as stopsto determine the throw-of the plunger.

The lock pinsv fit closely in their recesses 16 so that lateral play ofthe pins with the ratchet wheel, and consequent misadjustment of theplaten, is prevented. The pin recesses 16 are shown as intersecting thecounterbore 15, to form the slots 17 and the close fitting lock pinsslightly protrude into the counterbore. In order that the sleeve 7 inthe counter-bore may not interfere with the lock pins, the side of thesleeve is chamfered as at O at points opposite the slots 17.

In the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described thereare but four locking pins 21, whereas there are twentyfive lock pinholes 11. The latter are annularly arranged, the ring of perforationsbeing concentric with the platen shaft, and have their centers atprecisely equal angular distances from each other. The diameters of thepin holes at the face of the wheel are preferably such that theperipheries of two adjacent holes are tangential. The locking pins 21are positioned 90 apart on the sleeve 14. Since the number fourrepresenting the pins is divisible 69; times, and not evenly, into thenumber twenty-five representing the pin holes, it is obvious that,whatever may be the adjusted position of platen with respect to theratchet wheel, one only of the lock pins can in any particular instancebe truly centered in its opposing pin hole 11; if any one of the pins isso centered, the other three pins must each be more or less olf centeraccording to its distance from the centered pin. The ends of the pins,as well as the pin holes, are of conical formation as shown in thedrawings, so that even though a locking pin may not be truly centeredwith one of the pin holes, it may nevertheless, protrude to some extentinto the opposing pin hole; except when, as in the case of the lower pinin Fig. 2, the end of the pin bears against the ratchet wheel betweentwo adj acent pin holes.

From a careful examination of the disposition of the pins with respectto the pin holes (see Figs. 7 and 8) it will be noted that if one pin((1,) is fully centered, then the pins (1)) and (0) immediately to theright and left of (a) will both be off center in their respective pinholes an amount equal to one fourth of the distance between two adjacentpin hole centers; and the pin which is 180 from the centered pin, willbe off center a distance equal to one half the distance between adjacentpin holes, or in otherwords, the pin (cl) will bear upon the face of theratchet wheel between two pin holes (see lower pin Fig. 2). The pins Z)and 0 each protrude to some extent into their opposing pin holes 11, andengage the pin holes on opposite sides of the center thereof. The Fig. 2position illustrates only one particular adjustment; and it may be thatthe adjustment will be such that none of the pins will precisely centerwith a pin hole, in which event each of the pins will engage itsopposing pin hole to a greater or less depth according to the distancethe pin may be off center by reason of the adjustment.

It will be apparent that if but a single pin were employed, it wouldhold the platen in adjusted position only in event it should happen tobe precisely centered in its pin hole. At other times it would permitthe platen to be disturbed sufficiently to cause the pin to center inits hole; and in fact,

the spring pressure of the pin on the tapered side of the pin hole mighttend to cause this disturbing movement of the platen. Similarly if therewere two or more pins, so spaced that with certain. platen adjustmentthey could all be off center in the same direction, there would be thesame insecure hold on the platen, and liability of the latter todisturbance. Where, however, as in the present invention, the relativenumber and position of the pins and pin holes is such that there willinvariably be a pin on one side of one hole and another pin on the otherside of another hole, there can be no disturbing movement of the platen.The pin off center on the right hand side of one hole acts conjointlywith pin off center on the left hand side of another hole to hold theplaten positively against movement in either direction; the platen isactually clamped between the two pins, and nothing except the releasingoperation can disturb the adjustment. i

The taper or pitch of the cones formed by the pins and pin holes issteep, so that no effort to turn the platen relatively to the ratchetcan result in crowding the pins out of the pin holes. A positive lockingis therefore obtained without the use of other means for holding thepins in looking position. The pins are preferably not pointed, but aresquared off at their ends, thus being strong and substantialnotwithstanding the pitch of the cones. The arrangement and number ofthe pins and pin holes makes it unnecessary to point the pins in orderto obtain a sufficient number of locking positions; for as illustratedin Fig. 8, a positive locking will be obtained even though one of thepins rides on its squared end without entering any hole. The pin holespreferably extend entirely through the ratchet wheel (see Fig. 2), and along bearing is therefore provided for the pins. Ihe conical portion ofeach pin terminates at a shoulder 23, which by engagement with the faceof the ratchet wheel may serve as a positive stop for the pin, asindicated by the upper pin in Fig. 2.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a platen release, in combination, a

platen, a line-space wheel co-aXia-l therewith and having a plurality ofannularly disposed perforations, a pin-carrier adjacent to said ratchetwheel, a plurality of pins guided longitudinally therein and adapted toengage said perforations, a plunger mounted in said pin-carrier andadapted to slide inwardly, and rockers engaging said pins and saidplunger to withdraw said pins.

2. In a platen release, in combination, a platen, a line-space wheelco-aXial therewith and having a plurality of perforations, a sleevemounted adjacent to said wheel, said sleeve having a pin socket, a pinguided longitudinally in said socket and adapted to engage saidperforations, said sleeve having a bore therein, a plunger mounted toslide longitudinally in said bore, said sleeve having a pocket betweensaid socket and said bore, and a rocker received in said pocket engagingsaid pin and projecting into the path of said plunger, whereby thelongitudinal movement of said plunger may withdraw said pin.

3. In a platen release, in combination, a platen, a wheel co-axialtherewith and having a plurality of perforations, a sleeve mountedadjacent to said wheel, said sleeve having a pin socket adapted to bebrought into alinement with said perforations, a pin guidedlongitudinally in said socket and adapted to engage said perforations,said sleeve having a bore therein, a plunger mounted to slidelongitudinally in said bore, said sleeve also having a pocket betweensaid socket and said bore, a rocker received in said pocket engagingsaid pin and projecting into the path of said plunger, whereby thelongitudinal movement of said plunger may withdraw said pin, and meanstending to hold said pin in engagement with said wheel.

I. In a platen release, in combination, a platen, a wheel co-a'xialtherewith and having a plurality of annularly disposed perforations, asleeve having a plurality of guide sockets formed therein which mayaline with said perforations, pins mounted to slide in said sockets,means tending to force said pins into engagement with said perforations,said sleeve having a bore therein, and a plurality of pockets formed inthe wall. of said bore, rockers mounted in said pockets engaging saidpins, and a plunger mounted in said bore to withdraw the same.

5. In a platen release, in combination, a platen, a wheel co-aXia-ltherewith and having a plurality of annularly disposed perforations, asleeve co-axial with said wheel and having a plurality of guide socketsformed therein, pins sliding in said guide sockets and having eyesformed therein, a plurality of rockers mounted in said sleeve and havingarms engaging said eyes to withdraw said pins, and a plunger mounted toslide in said sleeve to engage said rockers and Withdraw said pins.

6. In a platen release, in combination, a platen, a wheel co-axialtherewith and having a plurality of annularly disposed perforations, asleeve co-axial with said wheel and having a plurality of guide socketsformed'therein, pins sliding in said guide sockets and having eyestherein, a plurality of rockers mountedin said sleeve and having armsengaging said eyes to withdraw said pins, a plunger mounted to slide insaid sleeve and engaging said rockers to withdraw said pins, and springsbehind said pins forcing the same toward said wheel.

7. In a platen release, in combination, a platen, a wheel, a. sleeveco-axial therewith, said wheel having a plurality of annularly disposedperforations, a plurality of pins mounted to slide in said sleeve andadapted to engage said perforations, said sleeve having a plurality ofpockets formed therein and having a central bore communicating with saidpockets, rockers mounted in said pockets having enlarged bodies withoutwardly projecting arms engaging said pins to withdraw the same, andhaving inwardly projecting arms extending into said'bore, and a slidingplunger mounted in said bore and engaging said last named arms forwithdrawing said pins.

8. In a platen release, in combination, a platen, a .Wheel co-axialtherewith, and havinga plurality of annularly disposed perforationstherein, asleeve having a counterbore co-axial with said wheel, andhaving a plurality of guide. sockets therein, cutting through the Wallof said counter-bore to form slots, said sleeve having pockets thereinopposite said slots, pins slidable in said sockets, rockers mounted'insaid pockets and having arms projecting through said slots and engagingsaid pinsto Withdraw the same, and means for actuating said rockers towithdraw said pins.

9. The combination with a platen, of a line-space wheel therefor, pinsspaced apart and movable along the axis of said platen to engageseatsdifferently spaced in the linespace wheel to look said platen to saidlinespace wheel at intervals equal to small fractions ofa line-space, abutton to move said pins, and means to lock said button by rotating it.

10. The combinationwith a platen fixed on its axle, of a line-spacewheel loose on saidiaxle, a collar fixed on said axle, pins closelyfitting holes bored in said collar, and arranged to engage in seats insaid line-space wheel, and a button for releasing said pins.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen and aline-space wheel,

meansto connect said wheel to the platen comprising an annular series oftapered openings and a series of pins adapted to be projected into saidopenings, said pins being separately movable in a direction parallelwith the platen axis'into and out of holding position, said taperedopenings permitting a differential movement of the pins to holdingposition.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen and aline-space wheel,

means to connect said wheel to the platen comprising an annular seriesof frustoconical openings with their axes parallel with the platen axle,aid openings forming inclined holding surfaces, and a plurality of pinshaving inclined surfaces to engage said first-named surfaces, and meansto project said pins to bring said surfaces into engagement, the partsbeing so spaced that the pins are projected different engaging distanceswhen in holding position.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combinationwith a platen, and aline-space wheel adapted for rotation relatively thereto, of means toconnect said wheel to the platen comprising an annularly arranged seriesof frusto-conical openings and independently movable locking pinsoperable to engage said surfaces and lock said parts against relativerotation from any position of adjustment, and means to move said lockingpins in a direction parallel with the platen axis into and out oflocking position.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and aline-space wheel rotatable relatively thereto, of means to connect thesaid wheel to the platen comprising an annular series of taperedopenings forming holding surfaces, and holding pins adapted forindependent movement in a direction parallel with the platen axis intoand out of engagement with said holding surfaces, said holding pinsbeing so positioned relatively to each other and to said surfaces thatwhen one holding pin engages an opening to hold said parts againstrelative rotation in one direction another of said pins holds the partsagainst relative rotation in the opposite direction.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and aline-space wheel, of means to connect the said wheel to the platencomprising an annular series of uniform tapered openings forming holdingsurfaces and locking pins movable into and out of engagement with saidopenings and positioned to engage different relative portions of saidopenings, and means for moving said pins in a direction parallel withthe platen axis into engagement with said openings.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a line spacewheel eonnected therewith, means for connecting the line-space wheel tothe platen comprising an odd number of pockets and an even number oflock pins, and means for moving said pins relatively to and from saidpockets, the said pockets being tapered so that the pins may enter intothe same a distance depending upon the amount by which the pins may beoff center with respect to the pockets, said taper being sufficientlysteep to effect a positive engagement between said pin and pocket toconnect the line-space wheel to the platen, and shoulders to hold saidpins from jamming in said pockets.

17. The combination with a platen, of a line-space wheel therefor, pinsfor locking said platen to said line-space wheel, a hollow hand wheelfor turning said platen, a but ton movable in and out in the directionof the platen axis within the confines of said hand wheel and operableby said movements to control said pins, and a bayonet slot and pinconnection between said wheel and button for locking said button.

18. The combination with a platen fixed on its axle, of a line-spacewheel loose on said axle, a collar fixed on said axle, said collarhaving cylindrical holes bored therein parallel with said axle, pinsclosely fitting said holes, tapered ends on said pins arranged to extendunequally into fixed tapered seats in said line-space wheel, springsseating said pins, and a button for releasing said pins.

19. The combination with a platen, of a line-space wheel thereforprovided with locking surfaces, pins carried with the platen and movableinto and out of holding contact with said locking surfaces for lookingsaid platen to said line-space wheel, a hollow hand-wheel for turningsaid platen, a button located Within said hand-wheel and manuallymovable to control said movements of the pins, and a bayonet slot andpin connection between said hand-Wheel and button for locking saidbutton.

JOHN G. DOANE.

lVitnesses:

FRANK A. Coon, LYMAN D. BROUGHTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. O.

